Virginia Tech Dendrology

sticky currant Grossulariaceae Ribes viscosissimum Pursh Listen to the Latin symbol: RIVI3
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous, 3 to 5 lobed leaf, 1 to 4 inches long, serrated margin, covered with soft sticky hairs on both surfaces.
Flower: Perfect, greenish-white to pink, bell-shaped, each 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, occur in erect to drooping clusters of 6-12 flowers, appearing in spring.
Fruit: Round, blue-black, very sticky berries; not edible (or at least not palatable).
Twig: Stems are round, unarmed but may have sticky hairs present.
Bark: Reddish brown and shreds with age.
Form: An erect to spreading, straggly shrub, 3-6 feet tall; unarmed; covered with soft sticky hairs.
 Looks like: red-flowering currant - mapleleaf currant - stink currant - wax currant
leaf flower fruit twig bark form1 map
Additional Range Information: Ribes viscosissimum is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting sticky currant.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material © 2018 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range maps courtesy USGS from USDA "Atlas of United States Trees" by Elbert L. Little, Jr., Vol. 1 (1971) 3 (1976) 4 (1977) 5 (1978)